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benignitas

Benignitas is a Latin noun meaning kindness, benevolence, or gentleness. It derives from the adjective benignus, itself from bene “well,” and is used in classical and medieval Latin to denote a favorable, well-meaning disposition toward others.

In philosophical and theological contexts, benignitas describes a humane and compassionate attitude or virtue oriented toward

Scholastic writers treated benignitas as an aspect of benevolent conduct, closely connected with but distinct from

Today, benignitas is primarily encountered in historical, theological, and philological contexts. It is the Latin counterpart

the
good
of
others.
In
Christian
Latin
literature,
the
term
often
appears
in
discussions
of
moral
character
and
mercy,
and
in
the
Latin
Vulgate
it
is
one
of
the
fruits
of
the
Spirit,
rendered
as
kindness
or
goodness
and
listed
alongside
other
virtues
such
as
bonitas
and
caritas
in
Galatians
5:22–23.
This
usage
ties
benignitas
to
a
broader
moral
framework
of
benevolent
behavior
inspired
by
divine
grace.
related
terms
like
bonitas
(goodness)
and
caritas
(charity).
They
sometimes
reflect
on
God’s
benevolence
toward
creation
and
on
the
ethical
obligation
of
humans
to
act
with
mercy
and
consideration
toward
others.
In
this
sense,
benignitas
functions
as
a
descriptive
and
normative
concept
within
discussions
of
moral
virtue.
to
concepts
such
as
benevolence
or
kindness
in
English
and
remains
of
interest
for
studies
of
Latin
vocabulary,
biblical
translation,
and
the
theology
of
virtue.